Personalities of the KuneKune Pig

It is often said not to believe everything you read. Well, I can tell you that you can believe this! As amazing as it sounds, it is very true!

KuneKunes have the best personalities!

KuneKunes are a docile, friendly little pig that is capturing the hearts of owners across the United States. They are being used as pets, therapy animals, orchard workers, garden workers (for cleanup, of course) and as homesteading pigs and breeding stock. They are becoming more and more popular for small-scale farmers as they are just so easy to handle. They follow you around like puppies while you are doing your chores. They enjoy he human interaction, but they are also independent enough not to need your attention every moment. If you have the time, they are willing to devote their affection to you and if you are busy, they are happy to graze and interact with each other.

I tell my husband all the time that the pigs are easily than the dogs. (We raise Australian shepherds as well). KuneKunes don’t bark, don’t get fleas and don’t have to come in the house! Did I mention they don’t bark? LOL

Having three small granddaughters, it was important to me to raise a breed of livestock that I did not have to worry about hurting any of the children. My granddaughters have fed with me, watched piglets be born and even helped clean piglets off when they are born. A mother pig does not seem to mind at all that she has an audience at birthing or even mating. When we give shots to the young piglets and they are squealing, the mother may “fuss” at me verbally but, never does she get aggressive.

It is nothing to see all the children running in the pasture with piglets and intact breeding KuneKunes. Actually their playhouse and swing are in the pasture. The girls go in the playhouse and suddenly the KuneKunes want to come in too. Imagine KuneKunes knocking on your playhouse door?; My sow’s gate was left open by accident one day. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner when I heard a loud knock on the door and it kept repeating itself. I dried my hands and hurried to the door as the knock seemed urgent. Imagine my surprise to find Sassy at the door. I guess she wanted to be invited in for dinner or she was telling me “Hey, you left the gate open.”

You would think an intact boar would be one that you definitely have to be careful of right? NOPE! They are just as docile as a piglet. My 3-year-old granddaughter used to try to ride my biggest boar. Of course, he did not allow that, he plopped to the ground for a belly rub instead. What breed of pig do you know that would do that? I have even scratched behind the ear of a boar that was in the process of breeding. That amazes me!

I can move everyone on my property to a new location in 5 to 10 minutes or less and never put a hand on the pig. I bet you wonder how that happens. Well, a box of Honey Nut Cheerios will get you everywhere with a KuneKune pig.

There are many theories on how the KuneKunes became so friendly, but the one that I hear over and over is that the Maori tribes in New Zealand kept them as meat pigs. They did not fence in the animals or make them stay in any particular area. However, they were always found close to the tribal homes. Maybe this is where they learned their love for humans.

So, when you hear how sweet, docile and friendly they are – this you can believe. When you hear how easy they are to manage … they are! I invite you to visit a KuneKune breeder near you and experience for yourself this amazing breed of pig. My small farm is located in Virginia, so come on by and we will be happy to introduce you. but I should warn you that your life will never be the same until you too can own your own KuneKune Pig.

In our next blog post, we'll talk about inexpensive options for fencing and housing a KuneKune.

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